«This drawing, a completely different approach than the previous posts references some of my interest in pop culture/comics/anime and its connection with modern life. Every once in a while, Im struck by how much we really have today. Not in any sort of negative or critical way - just in amazement. The drawing, begun from life, is based entirely on reality. I pushed things a little to make my point but this is life… interesting, weird, fun, exciting and beautiful.»

Dorian Vallejo was born into an artistic family - his father is the renowned artist Boris Vallejo. His career began in his late teens when he began illustrating book covers while attending the School of Visual Arts in New York. As the field increasingly began to incorporate the use of computer-generated images, Vallejo felt the need to pursue other avenues with his art. His love of traditional media and the figure, drew him to portraiture and to focus on personal work, which shows in galleries. These days Vallejo spends most of his time creating paintings and drawings for sale through galleries.

The 4th of five drawings for a group show in Atlanta with TEW Galleries.

"Pasajes / Passages", óleo sobre panel / oil on panel, 24" x 36"

«In a professional context, my earliest painting commissions began at the age of 11. In my late teens I began illustrating painted covers for Marvel Comics. Then shortly after, I painted sci-fi/fantasy book covers for every major book publishing house in New York.

This early introduction, plus several exceptional instructors at The School of Visual Arts, provided a wonderful foundation from which I still pull inspiration today.»

«Drawing and painting are how I process and reflect the world around me; the mystery, the questions, the beauty…

I am also compelled to create out of a deep respect for life. To look at life as something good and beautiful–wonderful, sincere and worthwhile . . . not that life doesn’t have a darker side. I’m aware of that, but I’m not focused on that at the moment.»

"Espejito, espejito / Mirror, mirror" (detalle / detail)

«Regarding influence, I try my best not to be influenced by others but instead to be inspired by their excellence. There are so many talented artists alive today producing such exciting work, it’s hard not to be inspired.

That said, it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly because I honestly feel like a wide range of media inspires me. I read and listen to a fair amount of work on psychoanalysis, philosophy, mythology, fairy tales etc. This work helps to plant seeds of thought that later manifest as internal dialog and still later as drawings and paintings.»

«Much of the art I create engages a fascination I have with several ideas that over lap both philosophically and aesthetically. I'm interested in the psychology of our inner selves, the conscious explorationand the interplay between the two realms of existence. Essentially, I see that process and our challenge to balance the lighter and darker sides of our persona as a beautiful dance.

I am also interested in beauty as a symbolic metaphor. The contemplative spectacle of which representsthe struggle between the limits of life and the quest for excellence. (arete as it relates to agon)

Although I have a real appreciation for the spontaneous beauty inherent in a naturalist impulse or life as it is, much of my thought involves some level of complexity that suggests a symbolic narrative. Increasingly, what I find exciting is to deviate from direct observation in exploration of territory that both challenge and surprise me and can in some way relate to the concepts, observations and questions about life that I find interesting.

Primarily, I use a sort of dream world of floating figures, forests, and natural motifs to suggest the realm of the unconscious and the duality of existence because it is there, creatively that I can express a philosophical ideal of heroism that (to loosely paraphrase one of my favorite philosophers) corresponds to my sense of Life as I believe it could be and ought to be. My work is my "Yes" to life.»

«What has evolved over time, which has been present since childhood, was a sincere interest in the concepts of justice, morality, courage and psychology - what makes each of us unique, why we act in the way that we do, and how we face the inevitable challenges that life presents - these were and continue to be subjects that fascinate me.»

This painting (somewhat Medusa like in nature) is loosely inspired by the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. In the story, Theseus is given a thread in order to find his way out of the labyrinth after descending its depths, to face the Minotaur. The painting continues along the theme of my previous maze paintings and drawings, engaging and exploring the idea that the labyrinthian recesses of our depths, might be of our own making. Likewise, the thread, fragile and seemingly insignificant, is our guide in and out of the passageways. In this sense, like Ray Harryhausen, I also engage the stories of mythology (which are really metaphorical stories about life) altering them slightly to offer my perspective…

«I think when we engage projects with sincerity, we believe and hope for the outcome to be better that our previous efforts. I see this process of conscious, itnentional effort as movement toward our personal goals, providing our lives with inspiration, meaning and purpose.

Held focused in our mind's eye, the potential of what we might be able to create begins to materialize... and we dare to dream. Of course, this is different for all of us but I'm not sure that I would say in the process or at the end, I have "abandoned" anything. I am familiar with the concept but somehow it has always sounded like a negative to me, like quitting, or something worse, like a life resigned to failure. That doesn't inspire me. When I work, I'm very conscious of engaging with what I feel is absolutely my best effort at the moment. It's simultaneously pleasing and frustrating because although I know I'm giving my best, I'm also genuinely frustrated by my limitations. In this state, I seek to make an honest appraisal of my modest successes and accept full responsibility for my shortcomings.

On completion, I reaffirm my resolve to make the next attempt better but I never engage with the intention or the knowledge that I will "abandon" anything. For me creation is an act of love and I don't abandon what I love.»

«The dream for so many of us is to create art in a manner that undiluted from any outside influence. With that in mind I wanted to create a body of work and house it in a collection that I can share with so many people to say: "This is the work that I've done, free from any commisions, free from any outside art direction whatsoever". As an artist there's an ever-increasing sensitivity to the world around us, and a desire to create work in a way that reflects that sensitivity.

So as the idea for the book began to take shape I knew that I had to engage this project in a way that met with my highest standards so that I would either do this and gave it everything that I had or just give up and not doing at all. I believe so strongly that if you make something with quality people will respond and often the work we do for ourselves is the best work that we've ever done.»

This is an open art blog, so you could find images eventually offensive or umconfortable.

If you're an artist and find here images of your art you want to be removed, just tell me and I'll do it immediately. I try to ask for permission always if artist is alive and there's a way to contact, bot not always is possible and there are things I think worth to be known.

In any case, the copyrights of all the images contained in this blog, except where noted, belong to the artists or the legal owners of such rights, and have been published nonprofit and for the only purpose of make the works known to the general public.

Enjoy "El Hurgador", make any comment you like (respecting artists, other visitors and myself), make suggestions, critics, leave your opinions and make your contributions. Always welcome.